High atop a towering mountain, nestled among peaks kissed by clouds, lay the Harpy Village. The cliff face, a jagged, brown scar on the mountain's side, was a honeycomb of homes, each a small, round hole burrowed into the rock. The wind howled through the crevices, carrying the crisp scent of clouds and the distant rumble of echoes.

Young harpies, their feathers rustling in the wind, flitted in and out of their homes, their laughter echoing through the village. They were the first to spot the unfamiliar construct, a colossal, winged ship gliding through the sky.

"A flying ship!" they shrieked, their eyes wide with wonder. "A big, big flying ship!"

The older harpies, their wings bigger and other proportions more generous, gathered to watch the spectacle from afar. They welcomed the approaching ship, their right wings waving a warm greating.

The Galleon Whale, a marvel of engineering, soared through the sky, its white hull gleaming in the sunlight. The harpies watched in awe as the ship docked by nearby outcrop, its landing gear connecting to the side of the mountain.

The Harpy Boss stood at the helm, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Hey! Come aboard, everyone!" she called, her voice carrying over the wind.

The harpies, their curiosity piqued, scrambled aboard the ship, their wings rustling with childish giddiness. They explored the deck, their eyes wide with wonder at the strange devices and unfamiliar sights.

Strangely, the stairs leading down bellow were barred shut by a thick grate. Now and then, down below the stairs, pairs of golden eyes gleamed from within the shadows. This ship was hiding secrets...

As the harpies marveled at the ship, a hatch creaked open at the ship's side, and a tiny spider, dressed in a sailor's uniform, leaped out. It was followed by a figure cloaked in shadow, a silhouette against the bright mountain sunlight.

"Rejoice, Harpies!" the spider chirped. "I present to you: the Spider King."

The harpies gasped as the figure stepped into the light. He was a King, his torso covered in shimmering scales, his cape flowing like a river of darkness. His eyes, purple and deep, seemed to bore into their very hearts.

"A male!" they exclaimed, their voices filled inappropriate thirst. "Finally a male!"

The harpies, their hearts pounding with excitement, surged forward, their wings outstretched. But before they could reach him, the Harpy Boss stepped between them, her wings blocking their path.

"Hey! He's mine," she declared, her voice firm. "Keep your feathers away."

The harpies, their desire for this male burning within them, ignored her warning. Their eyes glowed crimson, their feathers puffing up with passion.

"Careful!" the Harpy Boss warned. "He can reflect our Charm!"

Just as the harpies were about to pounce, another spider, wielding a broom, rushed out of the hatch. "No! Bad! No horny!" It shouted, its chirp filled with authority.

The scene descended into chaos.

....

The cave was a spacious, echoing chamber, its walls adorned with strange, bioluminescent fungi that cast a warm glow. The air was thick with the scent of damp feathers and ancient stone.

The Spider King, a figure of imposing stature and regal bearing, sat upon a crate. His eyes were fixed on an old bird, the Harpy Queen. Her feathers were a tapestry of greys, many shades, perhaps all fifty. Her face, though wrinkled with age, held a timeless beauty that bellied her years. The best part was that with age came wisdom – this Harpy Queen no birdbrain.

She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Spider King," she began, her voice a soft, melodic whisper, "thank you for your gifts. This tomgrape, not only is it delicious, but it is also filling. Is it a magical fruit?"

The Spider King nodded slowly, his eyes fixed on her plummage. "Yes, something like that."

"Then it must be expensive!" She leaned back, her feathers ruffling slightly as she crossed her legs "A hundred crates... How will I ever repay your kindness?"

"Think nothing of it," he shrugged, his expression dismissing her concerns. "It's not that expensive, and it was a gift."

"Then we must give you a gift in return," she leaned forward again, her eyes filled with determination. "And don't even think of refusing."

The Spider King hesitated for a moment, but only a moment. "Only if you insist," he relented.

"I do," she said, switched her legs up again. "But it's too bad we harpies are so unfortunate. Our village is poor. The only thing we can give is our... service."

The Spider King raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Service? Perhaps, do you mean your eggs?" he asked with a smile of a merchant.

She replied with a sly smile, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I was thinking about something else," she spoke, her voice soft and seductive. "How about I send you a few samples first? And I don't mean the eggs."

His swallowed audibly. "I can't! I mean, I would like the eggs, yes, egs only, please," he replied, his tongue tripping but his tone firm. "Only a few eggs, a good dozen, and we could call it even."

She chuckled softly, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Hmm... You drive a hard bargain. Eggs? But you see, it has been a while since I've laid any. Old age, you see."

The Spider King nodded in understanding. "I didn't mean to snatch the Queen's eggs. Your average harpy eggs would suffice. Yes."

"Just HarpyEggs? It seems I have misunderstood," she replied, her wing scraching her chin. "But even then, I don't think we have any at the moment. But..."

"It's fine, don't worry about it," he waved a dismissive hand. "I understand that the girls haven't been eating well, that's why."

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She nodded sadly. "Yes, that's the reason, but..." she didn't get to finish.

"Don't worry about it," he interrupted her. "It seems I've asked something inconsiderate. My apologies, forget I've asked."

"Hey, listen! Let me finish," she exclaimed, her wings suddenly becoming animated. "But, if it's the eggs you want, then we'll give them to you. There is a way, you see."

"There is?" he asked, this body leaning forward in expectation.

The Harpy Queen nodded vigorously. "Take a group of harpies with you. They'll lay some for you. Problem solved!"

"..." he considered her proposal for a moment, his eyes filled with thought.

She continued, "You're a smart man, so I'll tell you this straight. We have too many harpies. I was thinking of setting you up with some," she gave him a myschevious grin. "Just take them; they are good girls, I assure you."

The Spider King hesitated, his mind racing with thoughts of the implications of her offer.

"Listen," she said, her voice growing serious. "They would lay many eggs for you. You want the eggs, don't you?"

The Spider King nodded slowly.

"Just take them," she urged. "I can even let you have your pick. Why are you being so shy for?"

"I'm not being shy! I was just having an ethical dilemma," he replied, his musings over. "Harpy Queen, you drive a hard bargain..." he paused, his body taking a more relaxed pose. "I will take in your harpies!"

The Harpy Queen's eyes lit up with joy. In a flash of movement, she leaped from her nest and planted a passionate kiss on the Spider King's cheek.

"The deal is now sealed; you can't back out of it!" she declared, her feathers trembling with excitement.

"Is it how this works?" he chuckled softly.

"It is! What? Did you expect a handshake?" she chuckled back, stretching out her wing. "As you can see, harpies don't have hands."

"Indeed you don't," he gave her a compassionate smile.

"Now let's head out and pick you some good harpies with wide hips. You like your eggs big, don't you?" she beamed, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"No! I've said I like them as smart as possible!"

The Harpy Queen narrowed her eyes slightly. "Hmm... Do you want to check them one by one? Ask some questions in private?"

"I wouldn't have time for that," he vaved it off with a wrist. I guess I'll have to trust your judgment."

"I knew you're a smart man," she smiled triumphantly. "Go ahead, you can leave this to me," she dismissed him with a playful flick of a wing.

...

The Harpy Queen watched the ship as it disappeared into the distance, a tiny speck against the vast expanse of sky. She turned to the Harpy Boss, who had landed nearby.

"Queen, I've brought that male," she tilted her head at a sharp angle. "Why did ya let him go?"

"Oh, you chick of a harpy." The Harpy Queen rolled her eyes. "Did you think your flock could snatch him?"

"Hey, of course no! I'm not featherbrained!" The chick of a harpy bristled. "That's why I used my charms well. I've lured him here so that the entire village could help."

The Harpy Queen shook her head. "Then you must have straw for brains," she replied with contempt. "Even a thousand harpies wouldn't be able to snatch a male like him."

The strawbrained harpy's eyes widened in realisation. "Is he that strong?"

"Stronger than you can imagine," she replied, her voice filled with respect.

"!!!"

"Don't worry," the Harpy Queen said, her voice softening. "When your feathers are young, you make mistakes." She looked in distance again, then continued. "However, it was good you brought him here. Hey, look, we get to wear this."

The Harpy Boss looked down at her tanktop, her expression one of confusion. "Hey! You mean this? It's so uncomfortable," she tugged at it with the corner of her wing. "Hey! The spiders are gone. It should be okay to take it off."

"Cease your hey-peeping and think for a moment," the Harpy Queen encouraged. "Why would he give us the colours of his house?"

"Hey? The colour of his house? You're telling me this cloth has a meaning?" she tugged again, her brown eyes wide with disbelief.

The Harpy Queen clicked her tongue. "Was your head in your feathers the entire time?" With her wing, she flicked the back of the head of that birdbrain. "Didn't he call himself a King? Didn't his spiders wear the same colors? Think, hey, think!"

"???" The Harpy Boss's eyes narrowed, her feathers still.

"Hey, do you get it? Hey?" The Harpy Queen asked, her voice filled with concern for this featherbrained youth.

"I'm sorry, I don't," she shook her head. "Explain to me, please."

"Hmm... How do I explain it so that even you could understand..." the Harpy Queen hesitated momentarily, then replied, her feathers filled with finality. "Listen, we are now under a spider's wing."

The Harpy Boss's flapped in suprise. "Hey? As in under their care and protection?"

"Finally you get it," the Harpy Queen replied, giving a satisfactied smile. "Now fly out and catch yourself another stray male! You want to be harpy Queen don't you?"

...

Inside the Galleon Whale, twelve harpies were perched neatly on a bench, their feathers shimmering in the dim light. The Harpy Queen had kept her promise; this bunch seemed smarter than the rest, or at least better behaved. So far, they had been very obedient, making no trouble and speaking only when addressed. Were they waiting for orders or something?

Either way, there was a small surprise. One of the harpies was unlike the others. Her feathers were a vibrant green, a stark contrast to the muted browns of her companions. She was a Forest Harpy, clearly a rare breed native to the forests far from the mountains.

Curious, the Spider King asked, "How come you're so far from your true habitat?"

The Forest Harpy panicked for a moment, her eyes darting to her mates as if seeking help. "Me? Are ya speaking with me?" she stammered, her voice filled with fear. "Oh, ya looking at me, of course ya speeking with me," she fumbled, her words a jumble of excitement and confusion. "Ya're smart to know that my home isn't the mountain."

The Spider King nodded. "No smarts needed, Identify skill thats all. But why were you at the mountain? So far away from the forest?"

The Forest Harpy hesitated, her eyes filled with sadness. "Us Forest Harpies can't return to our forest," she replied, her voice barely a whisper. "There's trouble in our forest."

"Trouble? What kind of trouble?" he asked, in a low and soothing voice.

The Forest Harpy moved her wings in panic as if realising something. "Oops! The Queen told me not to make trouble for ya," she replied, her wings failing. "I don't know if I should tell ya."

The Spider King put his hand on her shoulder in reassurance. "Please do," he said, his voice gentle. "I want to hear it."

The Forest Harpy hesitated for a moment, then calmed and began to speak, "But, hey, it's a long story."

The Spider King smiled. "Go ahead, I want to hear it."

The Forest Harpy took a deep breath and began to speak. "Once upon a time, the Harpy Village prospered inside the forest," she said. "And all was well... until it wasn't."

A shiver ran down her feathers as she continued. "A serpent, big and mean, moved into the forest. It claimed it as its territory. This monster saw us harpies and our eggs as a convenient snack, raiding our village periodically."

She continued, her gaze distant at the old memory. "Us harpies, being able to fly, managed. But only barely, moving and rebuilding our village again and again," she recalled with a sigh. "It was bad, but it was manageable."

She paused to still her quivering wing, she took another deep breath. "However, one fateful day, things turned to worse. The monstrous serpent found our village at night. It was hurt at that moment, blood oozing from a gash at its side. But it was nothing to celebrate, perhaps because of ts wounds, it came to us with ravenous hunger."

The Forest Harpy's eyes filled with horror as she continued. "The scouts meant to warn the village were ambushed and swallowed whole," she said. "The serpent found its way to the Queen's nest, devouring the Queen and all of the eggs."

The Forest Harpy's voice almost broke as she continued. "Lucky few escaped, but soon we realized that without a flock and a Queen to lead us, we'd be doomed! And the forest was clearly no longer safe. So in our desperation, we flew to the neighbor village, miles and miles away, swearing to serve under a new Queen. And that's it," she finished.

"That's terrible..." the Spider King said, petting her head gently, his heart ached for the Forest Harpy and her people. His other hand formed a fist. "Would you like to avenge your village?"

"Huh?" she replied, her plummage puffing with disbelief.

The Spider King smiled. "If you know where it is, I could fly there and we could blow this serpent up with my spidery might!"

"I... I do... But... But can ya realy do that? The serpent is super strong, ya know," she replied, her voice returning to her.

"I can!" He grinned. "Let's do this Side Quest!" he exclaimed.

The Galleon Whale changed course yet again.